Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-24
A PEEP INTO SPACE.
Exploring the Mysteries of the Nebular
system,


From the san Francisco Alta California.
Though the words star cloud, star
mist and nebul@ suggestive far-off depths
or space, unfolded only to telescope re-
search, this impression is but partly cor
rect, for several of these wonders can be
seen with the naked eye when the sable
skies are free from the silyering presence
of the moon.
Few, perhaps, remember that Kepler,
"the legislator of the heavens" and
Calico, the great martyr of astronomical
observation, were advanced in life before
the invention of the telescope, and that 8
good Opera-glass reveals as much as the
Venetian lens, that first explained the
misty light of the milky way. small,
faint, isolated fragment of cloud, such is
the aspect OF nebUIa, or cloudlet, thou
sands OF which are strewn over the sable
sphere, though few can be seen. except
through q magnIfying lens. This appear-
ance is presented by two distinct classes
OF objects, namely, clusters of stars,
probably very remote, and masses of
luminous gas, perhaps at q far greater
distance.
To the latter class belongs part at leas.
of the hazy light in Orion's sword, and to
the former three easily discovered clus-
tiers, which arc visible in the heavens
these nights. Abiding to these mysteries
of space, r. A. Proctor, that most star
studying astronomer, the interchangeable
.dtveffhto the starry deep, remarks: eve
stand as yet but on the threshold of that
mighty domain which belongs to the as
tronomy of the future"
ANDRONEDA, QUEEN OF TIKI NEBULF.
At about 5:45 p. m. five diameters of
the moon, northward from the zenith,
keen eyes, or ordinary vision with an
opera-glass, can distinguish the great
cluster of Andromeda, called oy some en-
thuSiastlc astronomer the ''traGscendently
beautiful Queen of the Nebul9." Ac-
cordiGg to Sir j. Herschel, elliptical
nebulW are, for some unknown cause,
less easily resolved into starry groups
than those that are globulsr; and this
oval cloudlet dstied magnifying power
for long time. AIlured by the luster of
new star, all the telescopes in the world
were leveled at this feecy spot not long
ago.
This mysterious outburst of illuminat- |
ing possibilities has nearly subsidized, and |
it has resumed its ordinary aspect, resem-
bling comet when first it energies from
the darkness of distant space, or like "a
candle seen through horn," according to
some observers. a steady survey of the
zenith on a clear night can not fail to dis
cover this interesting object, which has
been known to astronomers for about
1000 years.
About two hours later, another famous
cluster can be seen on the meridian,
oLe-sixth of the distance from
he north horizon. This is in the con-
Perseus. More scattered than
hat of Andromeda, and probably nearer
o us, the minute stars Of which it is
composed are distinctly seen, even with
N opera-glass. Though star mists can
re far better seen near the zenith, it will
re judicious to defer futher observation {
II the groups which they adorn until the :
arth's onward flight has placed them ;
lear the horizon at q seasonable hour. |
THE URN OF THE WATER BEARER.
At p. N. the NortherR Cross is up
light and conspicuous in the northwest.